Apparatus for the concentration of ores.



Pateted Mar. 4, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I l. M. HYDE. APPARATUS ron me cowcfnmmon oF nnss. APPLICATION "LED DC|22| 1915. 1,296,190."

MAMO

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. M. HYDE. APPARMUS Fon 1HE coNcEuRmoN 0F axes. PPLICUON FILED DEC-22|1gl5. 1,296,190.

A JmeJMZf-yde l. M. HYDE. APPARATUS FOR THE CONCENTRATION 0F GRES.

T LenZZr-f mes/Kg e Patented Mar. 4,1919.

J'AHEB E. HYDE, 0l PALO ALTO, CALIFOENIA.-

.APPARATUS FCB THE CNGENTRATION 0F om Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application mail December 99, 1915. Serial lo. 68,218.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMEs M. HYDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palo Alto, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forthe Concentration of Ores, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates t0 an ap aratus for separating metalliferous minera s from the associated angue, and, in some instances, the separatlon of one metalliferous mineral from anotherb dotation. Generally speaking, the type o process to which my process is applicable consists in subjecting the ore pulp 1n a proper state of dilution, and with proper reagents mixed therewith, to the iniluence of an upward current of bubbles of air or other gas, the bubbles bein admitted t0 the pulp through a porous me lum below the surface of the pulp. In such a process the part of the material to be separated from the remainder adheres to the air bubbles as they rise through the pulp, and a mass of mineral-bearing bubbles is formed upon the surface and carried over the edge of the containing vessel. It has long been known that when certain substances are added to an ore pulp, the selective adhesion of certain of the metalliferous mineral par.

ticles for the pulp, or air, or other gas, can be utilized in the manner above descnbedr. The substances so added to the pulp may substances insoluble in water, such as oleic' acid, commonly known as candlemakers red oil, cotton-seed oil, eucalyptus oil, or many other oils; or the substances added to the water for the purpose mentioned may soluble in water, for instance, cresol, phenol, acetic acid, or certain ofthe alcohols. When insoluble substances are used for the pu se mentioned, it is necessary that they be mixed with the ore pul ness to finely su divide the insoluble substances used. It has also been found that certain substances, such as coal tar, or wood tar, containing both water-soluble and water-insoluble ingredients, may be used for the purpose above mentioned.

Apparatus has heretofore been used for carrying out 4the process above described wherein the vided with a slo ing bottom comp of some porous me( um such as fabric, un-

be herin with sufficient thoroughl 'pulp containing vessel is rol glazed porcelain, carborundum, etc., through which air is admitted from an air chamber beneath the porous medium. In such-apparatus it is necessary to maintain only sufficient air pressure to counterbalance the hydrostatic head of the ore pulp and to cause the air to pass through the porous medium. In such apparatus it has been customary to admit the pulp at the shallow end of the vessel, and to permit the pulp to iow out at the dee end, the pulp during its passage through t e vessel being subjected to the vertically rising stream of air bubbles admitted through the downwardly sloping porous bottom, the sloping bottom assisting in preventing the accumulation of any solid matter which might tend to settle out of the pulp during its passage throu h the vessel. In using such an apparatus the pul I is subjected to the rising stream of air bub les throughout its transit through the flotation vessel or cell, and up to the very moment when it is discharged. The air bubbles passing through the pulp just before its discharge, however, have no opportunity to rise to the surface of the `pulp before the pulp is discharged, and the result is that the airbubbles admitted to the pul adjacent the discharge outlet are carri away with the pulp through the discharge port of the a paratus, without eecting any usefulA function. In my improved apparazone near the discharge outlet of the iiotation cell in which no air is admitted to the pulp, and in this zone I provide means for collecting the bubbles of air with their admineral, which v'bubbles and mineral woul otherwise be carried out through the discharge port and lost so far as the operation of the cell in question is concerned. v In the treatment of ores of different character, or in meeting the requirements incident to the variations in the same ore, or variations in the dilution 0f the pul it is desirable that the inclination of 't e tom of the otation cell be' varied, and I have found that means for so varyin the inclination of the bottom of the ce l can be tus I overcome this difficulty by providing a which no air is admitted tothe pulp. s

Another improvement which I have combined with the adjustable porous bottom of the cell is the rovision of a readily replaceable crous ottom, the same consisting of an air ox providedwith a porous top so arranged that when need arises the air box can readily be removed and replaced by a new one without interrupting the operation of the cell for any appreciable length of time.

In connection with the foregoing improvements, I provide simple means for regulating the level of the pulp in the apparatus, such regulation of level being necess in order to maintain the roper depth of ubbles upon the surface o? the pulp to secure the most ellicient concentration.

By proper adjustment of the slope of the porous bottom of the cell, in connection with adjustment of the level. of the pulp, the apparatus, it has been found, may be so arranged as to run eiiciently for long eriods of time Without any personal supervision or attention. Such regulation is fur-ther assisted and supplemented by 'provision of two outlets for the tailings, one near the bottom of the cell at the dischar e end thereof, which isprovided with a va ve for regulation, and the other consisting of an outlet pipe of adjustable height through which the level of the pulp is adjusted, as above referred to.

In the drawings,-

Figure l-is a vertical longitudinal section through a dotation cell constructed according` to my invention;

ig. 2 is a transverse section through the same upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is also a transverse section of the flotation cell taken upon4 the line 3--3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary lon 'tudinal section upon an enlarged scale o the air box shown in Fig. 1, this view being partly in y section;

Fig. 5 is a illustrated in Fi 6 is a longitudinal section of a modified germ of flotation cell, the modification consisting in constructing the air box in a plurality of independent units in order to plan view of the air box, as

. render it possible to replace part of the 'powithout disturbing from the inlet box point just above the upper end of the porous ottom or air box B. The air box B is supported upon a frame 4 which is pivotally supported at 5 upon trunnions mounted upon the walls of the air box at the pulp inlet end thereof. The frame 4 may be provided with an convenient means for retaining the air x B in place. In the present instance I have shown a shoulder 6 projecting upwardly from the frame 4 near its lower end for this purpose.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the frame 4, and air "box supported thereon, are in the position in Whlch the air box has its maximum inclination, that is, the lowest end of the frame 4 rests upon the edge of the hopper A at the point 7. At a point just beyond the lower end of the air box B, I provide the flotation cell A with a vertical partition 8 which extends downwardly to a point Sulliciently above the bottom of the dotation cell to permit the necessary adjustment of inclination of the air box. For the purpose of adjusting the inclination of the air box B, I provide an adjusting rod 9, -the screwthreaded upper end 10 of which passes through an openingl in a late 11 mounted upon the top of the flotation cell. A wing nut 12 affords means for raising or lowering the adjustment rod 9. At its lower end the adjustment rod 9 is ivotally connected by means of a link 13 with a lug 14 projecting from and forming art of the frame 4, which supports the air box B. By manipulation of the wing nut 12, the lower end 'of the frame 4, with the air box resting thereon, may 'be raised and lowered, such adjustment being permitted by the pivotal connection 5 between the frame 4 and the air cell A,

In order to provide a discharge openingof substantially uniform size in all inclination adjustments of the air box B, I have constructed the lower end of the partition 8 in the form of an adjustable section S adapted to bemoved vertically between the cleats or guides 15, 16, fixed to the walls of the air cell A. The adjustable member 8 of the wall -8 is connected by means of a yoke 17 with the adjustment rod 9, whereby, when the lower end of the air box B is raised z or lowered, a corresponding movement is imparted to the adjustable section 8 of thewall 8, thus preserving a substantially uniform discharge opening at the oint 18 between the lower end of the wa l 8 as prulonged b the adjustable section 8 and the lower en of the air box B.

The distance between the partition 8 and the end 19 of the air cell A is suicient to permit substantially all of the air bubbles carried by the pulp as it passes through the opening 18 to rise in the compartment C before the ulp is discharged `from the apparatus, e compartment C forming a zone essary to adjust wherein no air bubbles are admitted to the pulp, but wherein such air bubbles as are carried by the pulp from the main compartment of the cel are given an opportunity to rise before the discharge of the pulp from the apparatus.

The ulp finds' its outlet from the apparatus t ugh two channels, one consisting of a pi or spout 20 near the bottom of the cell, an the other a pipe 21 ad'acent the top. The outlet pipe 20 is provide with a gatevalve 22, operated by means of a rod 23 extending to the top of the a plaratus, and provided with a handle 24. )l e outlet pipe 21 is connected by means of a swivel joint 25 with a section 26, secured to the side 19 of the A and communicating with the interior of the com artment C thereof through a port 27. e port 27 is located below any point at which it may ever be necthe pulp level in the apparatus. A box or guard 64 leading from the lower part of compartment C to the port 27 still further prevents the outflow of concentrates. By rotating the outlet pipe 21 in a vertical laneupon the swivel joint 25, the height of tlie outlet openin at the end of the pipe 21 `may be regulated, t creby regulating the pulp level in the apparatus.

By suitable adjustment of the gave-valve 22 in the lower tailings outlet ipe 20, the amount of pulp discharged t rough the lower outlet 20 and the level regulating outlet 21 may be adjusted in such manner as to secure the proper ratio between the out-flow at the two mts mentioned. The sloping hopper wal A', A guide the pulp to the outlet leading t0 gate-valve 22.

The air box B is shown in rdetail in Figs. 4 and 5, and consists of a rigid bottom member 28 having upwardly-'iclijecting sides 29, and open' at the top. is rigid bottom member 28 may be constructed of wood, east or pressed metal, or any suitable material. The top of the air box consists preferably of a layer of fabric, such as canvas, or sevveral su rposed layers thereof. The porous top 30 ormed of canvas, or other suitable material, as above stated, is stretched over the top of the air box and its edges folded down around the sides of the air box, and beneath a flange 31 formed thereon. The ilange 31 is provided with a groove 32, and the canvas is held in place by means of wood or metal strips 33, by means of-which the canvas is forced into the groove 32 and held therein by means of cap screws 34 threaded into the material of which the bottom member of the air box is constructed.

Air is supplied to the interior of the air box from an air main 35 through an air pi e or hose 36, a valve 37 being provided for tlie purpose of lating the amount of air supplied to the air box from the air main. The air pipe 36 may be connected to the air box by the use of any suitable coupling. In the present instance I have shown a threaded pipe section 37 clamped to the canvas top of the air box by means of nuts 38 and 39, a washer 40 being interposed between the nut 39 and the canvas, if necessary. Threaded to the u per end of the pipe 37 is a nipple 41, to w ich the pipe or flexible hose 36 is connected. In order to impart some degree 0f ri 'dity to the canvas top 30 of the air box, have shown a rib 28 extending from end to end of the box and a rigid strip 42,

which may be of wood or metal, extending' and the said over the top of the canvas to he rigid suprib longitudinally thereof. porting strip 42 may be clam ed between the nut 39 and the rib 28* wliio hold the coupling section 37 in place, and preferably the strip 42 is riveted to the canvas at a plurality of points, as indicated by the rivets 43. Obviously, other means may be adopted for imparting the necessary rigidity to the canvas top of the air box.

Extending longitudinally of the mainY compartment of the cell A, upon each side thereof, I provide launders 44 to receive the mineral-bearing bubbles which overilow therefrom, over the lips 45. The beveled strip which is secured to the partition 8 near its top serves to divert the bubbles from the partition 8 and to assist in causn the froth or bubbles to flow toward the fee end, where, if they break, it will be over ascending air bubbles.

In operation the admission of air to the pulp from the air box B causes a considerable mass of bubbles to be built up upon the surface of the pulp in the main compartment of the flotation cell A above the air box. This mass of bubblesI varies in thickness in different instances, often having a thickness of ten or twelve inches. In the compartment C, however, to which no air is supplied directly, but in which bubbles rise only by vii'- tue of the air bubbles carried by the pulp as it passes bevond the stream of bubbles rising from the air box. the thickness of the mass of bubbles upon the surface will not ordinarily be so great as in the main compartment of the cell over the air box. In order to collect and Save the mineral-bearing air bubbles that rise in the compartment C it is necessary to provide a supplemental overflow outlet therefor, and preferably such supplemental overflow outlet is made adjustable in height in order to preserve the proper relation between such supplemental overflow outlet, the level of the pulp, and the thickness of the layer of bubbles in the compartment C.

As regards the main compartment of the air cell A above the air box, the proper relation between the pulp level and the overflow lips 45 is obtained by adjusting the pul level through the instrumentality of the adr 'compartment A, throu h of the flotation ce l justa'ble overflow pipe 21. When this adjustment is made in such manner as to secure proper results in the main compartment of the cell A. over the air box, it is necessary that the overflow means used in the compartment C be adjusted to correspond with the conditions found necessary to secure the best resultsD in the main compartment of the air cell.

For this purpose .I have provided in the C an overflow tray 46 which is simply a vessel open at the top, having its sides 47 parallel, and its ends 48 convergxing downwardly to' an outlet opening 49. he outlet opening 49 is connected by a flexible pipe or hose 50 with one of the main launders 44, if it be desired to mingle the concentrates obtained in the compartment C with the concentrates obtained from the main com artment of the cell A. If it is not desire to mingle the concentrates obtained from these two sources, the overflow tray 46 and its outlet opening 49 lead to such other int as desired. In some cases it may be desirable to return the concentrates obtained in the compartmentCtothehead of the machine to be re-treated with the incoming original feed. The overflow tray 46 is provided with suitable supporting means, such as a bail 51, having a slotted extension at its upper end coacting with a slotted hanger 52, supported from any convenient point such as the air main 35. By means of a binding screw 53 and nut 54 the tray 46' may be 'supported at an desired height.

operation the pulp, previously mixed with the necessary reagents, is admitted to the main compartment of the flotation cell the port 3. During the passage h the main compartment the upwardly-coursing air bubbles from the air box B collect the metalliferous fparticles and carry Ithem to the up, er sur ace of the Apulp where anlass of bu les of varying thickness, according to conditions, is built up. The level 55 of the pulp is adjusted by turning the upper outlet ipe 21 to the proper point, this point bein etermined by the level necessary to obtain the best results in grade of concentrate and recove the bubbles ove owing from the main compartment of the flotation cell. The ulp passes from the main compartment o the cell A through the opening 18 into the compartment C, part of the pulp flowing to waste through the lower tallings outlet `2O, and art throu h the upper overflow pipe 21. ile in t e compartment C the partially depleted pup is not supplied with air 1])35' reason of the act .that the flotation box does not extend beyond the partition 8, but more or less air is contained in the pulp after it paes into the-compartment C, and such air rises to the top and causes the forof the pu p throu edges of the tray,

V drawings differs in the mineral carried bybuild up to so great a thickness as is the case upon the surface of the pulp in the main compartment of` the 'vessel It would, therefore, be impracticable to collect the bubbles from the compartment C by overflowing them over a fixed lip, or a lip placed at the same elevation asrthe lips 45 over which the bubbles are carried from the main compartment. The overflow tray 4G, however, ma bc adjusted to such height that the bub lcs overlying the pulp in the compartment C will flow over the upper as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. These bubbles, consisting of water films, with the adhering metallifeious mineral, flow downward in the tray 46 and through the pipe 50 may be, conducted to the main launders 44, or to such other place as desired. The adjustment of thc slope of the porous bottom formed by the air box is easily accomplished by the means hereinbeforc described, and when such adjustment is made the outlet opening 18 is kept constant by the movement of thc lower movable section 8 of the partition 8. The tailings discharged through the upper adjustable outlet opening 21 may be received in a Gland conducted through a pipe 62 to the launder 63 which receives the tailings discharged from the lower end of the cell.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 6 of the in no wise from that hereinbefore described, instead' of employingr a. single adjustable air box B forming substantially the entire bottom of the main compartment of the cell A., I have constructed the bottom in the form of a plurality of air boxes D, D1, D,

D, D, and D. Each of these separate air boxes is similar in its general structural arrangement to the single air box B dcscribed in connection with the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, differing therefrom only in size. When the po rous bottom is constructed of'a lnrality of units, as illustrated in Fig. 6, t e frame 4' is preferably rovided with a plurality of cleats or shouders 70, one for each section off thc air box, thereb rendering each sec,1 tion of the air box in ependent of the other, sections, and each section removable without disturbing an of the other sections. This` arrangement acilitates repair and cleaning of the apparatus, and in 'some instances may be found preferable to the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, in which form whilc the porous bottom may bel removed and re box downwardly therefrom except in the fact that i tal paired or cleaned expeditiously, it is neces- -sary that the Whole bottom be removed for that purpose. f i

While in the foregoing I have described my invention as embodied in a specific me chanical structure, the principle of my iiivention may, of course, be applied in niechanical forms of widely divergent character.

What I claim is :i-

1. In an apparatus of the class described for treating ore ulp, a vessel, means for admitting air in a Enely divided condition into the pulp in said vessel, means for admitting pulp to said vessel at one end, a vertically adjustable pulp overflow discharge outlet in the opposite end of said vessel, and a valved pulp discharge outlet in the last mentioned end of said vessel adjacent the bottom thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the class described for treating ore pulp, a vessel adapted to contain the pulp, an air box support in said vessel, means for settin said support in positions of varying inclination, an air box avmg a porous top removably resting upon said sup rt, and exible air supply means connec to said air box.

' 3. In an apparatus of the class `described for treating ore pulp, a vessel to contain the pulp, an air box support in said vessel pivotally mounted near one end of said vessel, means for raising and lowering the opposite end of said support to vary its inclination, an air box havin a porous top removably positioned on sai support, and flexible air supply means connected to said box.

4. In an apparatus of the classI described f for treating ore pulp, a vessel to contain the pulp, said vess containing a main compartment and a supplemental compartment, the main comlpartment being -separated from said supp emental compartment by a partition extending from the upper art of said vessel to a point adjacent the ottom thereof, whereby said main and supplemenoompartments have communication through a pulp discharge port beneath the lower edge' of said partition, an air box having a porous upper side pivotallyr mounted in said main compartment at the side thereof op osite said discharge ort, an overflow bu ble-collecting tray positioned in the upper part of said suplemental compartment, and an upper overiow outlet communicating with the pulp mass at a point near the level of the lower edge of said artition.

5. In an apparatus of t e class described for treating ore pulp, a vessel to contain the pulp, said vessel'comprisin a main compartment and a supplementa compartment, a partition separating said compartments and I extending from a point above the bottom of said vessel to the upper part thereof, whereby said compartments are connected by a discharge port beneath the lower edge of said partition, an air box having a porous top, said air box being pivotally mounted in said main compartment at the side thereof opposite said discharge port and inclining downwardly toward said discharge port, and means for raising and lowering the end of said air box adjacent Said discharge port and for raising or lowering the lower edge of said partition in accordance with the .movement of the lower end of said air box.

6. In an apparatus of the class described for treating ore pulp, a vessel to contain the pulp, a lurality of separately formed air boxes in ependently supported in said vessel at a point beneath the level of the pulp contained therein, a`source of air under pressure, and independent connections between said air source and each of said air boxes, and an inclined support for said boxes.

7. In an apparatus of the class described for treating ore pul a vessel for containing the pulp, said vesse being provided with inlet and discharge openings and lips over which the mineral-bearin ubbles ow, launders for collecting the ubbles discharged over said lips, means for admitting air or other gas in a finely divided state beneath the surface of the pulp, said means extending across said vessel but terminating at a distance from said discharge opening, and means for deflectin ascending bubbles in that part of the liqui not directly above the air admission means awa from the discharge end of the vessel into tlie column of bubbles ascending directly above said air admission means, said deflecting means being at approximately the same height as the lips upon said vessel plver which t e said mineral-bearing bubbles 8. In an apparatus of the class described for treating ore pulp, a vessel for containing the pulp, said vessel being provided with inlet and discharge openings and lips over which the mineral-bearing bubbles flow, launders for collecting the bubbles discharged over said lips, a supplemental discharge duct adjustable in height to regulate the pulp level in said vessel, means for admitting air or other gas in a finel divided state beneath the surface of the pu said means extending across said vessel but terminating at a distance from said discharge opening, and means for delecting the ascendin bubbles in that part of the liquid not direct y above the air admission means away from the dischar e end of the vessel into the column of bubbI air admission means, said deliecting means bein at approximately the same Jheight as the ips over which said mineral-bearing bubbles flow.

9. In an apparatus of the classdescrbed for treating ore pul a vessel for containing the pulp, said vesse being provided with ines ascending directly upward from said let and discharge openings, an air box for admitting air .or other gas in a nely divided state beneath the surface of the pulp, said box being inclined downward toward the discharge opening and spaced from it, a partition located in said vessel in line with the lower end of said box, said artition having a discharge o ening beneat i1; adjacent to the lower en of said box2 an adjustable member carried by said partition and operative to vary the size of said latter discharge opening, and means for operating said adjustable member to vary said opening and simultaneously to adjust the position of said Jos. E. Dnnsaox, JNO. H. lvnmimilsnn. 

